A public university in Madhya Pradesh’s capital Bhopal will be renamed Vagdevi Bhojpal University, local media reported on Thursday, in a move that drops the name of freedom fighter Mohamed Barakatullah Bhopali.
The decision was cleared by the university’s executive council and now awaits approval from the state governor, who serves as the institution’s chancellor, according to reports.
The institution, established in 1988 as Barkatullah University, was named after Mohamed Barakatullah Bhopali, a native of Bhopal who played a role in India’s independence movement. Born in 1854, he later served as prime minister in the Provisional Government of India-in-exile formed in Afghanistan between 1915 and 1919.
The proposed new name, Vagdevi Bhojpal University, is intended to reflect the region’s cultural and historical identity, officials cited in local reports said. Vagdevi is another name for the Hindu goddess Saraswati, associated with knowledge, while Bhojpal refers to King Bhoj, an 11th-century ruler linked to the founding legend of Bhopal.
Documents cited by media said the council argued that compared with King Bhoj, there was no significant contribution to the region by Bhopali beyond his association as a resident of the city.
The move comes amid a series of renaming decisions in Bhopal in recent years. In August, the municipal corporation approved renaming three institutions previously named after Hamidullah Khan, the last Nawab of Bhopal. In 2021, Habibganj railway station was renamed Rani Kamlapati, and in January 2025, the state government renamed 11 villages in Bhopal district.
Officials and stakeholders are expected to take up the proposal for final clearance in coming weeks, after which administrative notifications will be issued, sources said. The university is one of the major higher education institutions in central India, serving thousands of students across disciplines. No timeline has been formally announced. officials added.
Support Independent Media
Click Here and Join the Membership of Millat Times to Support Independent Media.
Support Millat Times